Cabinet for home appliance

ABSTRACT

A cabinet for a home appliance is described as a sectioned lid of a top-loading washing machine. The cabinet includes an outer panel having at least one reinforcement rib, integrally formed on an inner surface of the outer panel, to protrude from the inner surface to a predetermined height; and an inner panel having at least one boss, formed on an inner surface of the inner panel in opposition to the reinforcement rib, for joining the panels together, wherein the boss has a flat surface for establishing a right angle with respect to the reinforcement rib.

[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Application No.10-2002-0078345 filed on Dec. 10, 2002, which is hereby incorporated byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a cabinet for a home appliancesuch as a washing machine, and more particularly, to a sectioned lidsuch as that for use on a top-loading washing machine, in which at leastone reinforcement rib extends from an outer panel constituting the outersurface of one section of the lid, through the interior of the lid, to aboss provided on an opposing surface of an inner panel, to be welded atright angles with respect to the boss.

[0004] 2. Discussion of the Related Art

[0005] Major home appliances such as washing machines, dryers, anddishwashers typically employ cabinets for housing internal componentsand establishing an exterior surface formed of interconnecting panels,and user access is inherently initiated from the exterior of the homeappliance. At the same time, a home appliance should be aestheticallyappealing, including smooth exterior surfaces where possible.Accordingly, contoured exterior surfaces are widely employed,particularly where a manually operated outer panel is desired, such asin the case of the lid of a top-loading washing machine.

[0006] In a general top-loading washing machine, a drum for holdinglaundry is accessed through the top of the washing machine, where auser-operated lid is provided. To facilitate operation of the lid, thelid typically employs front and rear sections combined and hinged at amidpoint. In the opened state, the front and rear sections are drawntogether at the midpoint hinge, in an upright position at a rear hingesupporting both sections, thus minimizing the required vertical spacefor opening the lid and reducing the required reach of the user.Meanwhile, the sectioned lid is essential made up of inner and outerpanels joined together, with the outer panel constituting the contouredexterior of the washing machine. The joined panels should form a rigidpiece to withstand the stress of manipulation by the user.

[0007] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a general washing machine is comprisedof a cabinet 2 housing a drum 4. The cabinet 2 forms the exterior of thewashing machine, and a sectioned lid 14 comprising front and rear lids15 and 16 constitutes the top surface of the cabinet. The rear edge ofthe rear lid 16 is hinge-coupled to the washing machine, and the rearedge of the front lid 15 is hinge-coupled to the front edge of the rearlid 16. A grip 15 a is centrally provided on the front lid 15.

[0008] Referring to FIG. 3, the rear lid 16 is comprised of an innerpanel 22 having a plurality of reinforcement ribs 22 a extending fromits inner surface and protruding inward and an outer panel 20 having aplurality of fitting grooves 22 a formed in its inner surface incorrespondence to the reinforcement ribs. The cross-section of the outerpanel 20 shows a contoured (curved) surface forming the exterior of thewashing machine, in which recesses are provided to enable lid operation,to allow access to controls, and impart an aesthetic appearance. Duringassembly, the reinforcement ribs 22 a of the inner panel 22 are fittedto the fitting grooves 24 of the outer panel 20 and are welded (notshown) to the inner surface of the outer panel, thus joining the panelsto form the rear lid 16. Notably, each of the reinforcement ribs 22 ahas a flat distal end and extends to a predetermined height according tothe contours of the outer panel 20.

[0009] The weld joining the inner and outer panels 22 and 20, however,is poor since the flat ends of the reinforcement ribs 22 a must bejoined with the curved surface of the outer panel 20. After extended useduring which the sectioned lid 14 is repeatedly opened and closed andsustains the vibration of the washing machine, the welded couplingbetween the inner and upper panels 22 and 20 is weakened and becomesunstable. Moreover, it is difficult to manufacture the inner panel 22since the respective heights of the reinforcement ribs 22 a must becarefully controlled and the respective welds lie in different planes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a cabinet of ahome appliance such as a washing machine that substantially obviates oneor more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of therelated art.

[0011] An object of the present invention, which has been devised tosolve the foregoing problem, lies in providing a cabinet of a homeappliance such as a washing machine, by which a coupling rigiditybetween inner and outer panels constituting a sectioned lid is enhanced.

[0012] It is another object of the present invention to provide acabinet of a home appliance such as a washing machine, which facilitatesmanufacturing.

[0013] Additional features and advantages of the invention will be setforth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent tothose having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the followingor may be learned from a practice of the invention. The objectives andother advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by thesubject matter particularly pointed out in the specification and claimshereof as well as in the appended drawings.

[0014] To achieve these objects and other advantages in accordance withthe present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, thereis provided a cabinet for a home appliance. The cabinet comprises anouter panel having at least one reinforcement rib, integrally formed onan inner surface of the outer panel, to protrude from the inner surfaceto a predetermined height; and an inner panel having at least one boss,formed on an inner surface of the inner panel in opposition to the atleast one reinforcement rib, for joining the panels together, whereinthe at least one boss has a flat surface for establishing a right anglewith respect to the at least one reinforcement rib.

[0015] It is to be understood that both the foregoing explanation andthe following detailed description of the present invention areexemplary and illustrative and are intended to provide furtherexplanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide afurther understanding of the invention and are incorporated in andconstitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of theinvention and together with the description serve to explain theprinciple of the invention. In the drawings:

[0017]FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a general washing machine;

[0018]FIG. 2 is a plan view of the washing machine of FIG. 1,illustrating a sectioned lid;

[0019]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view cut along a line A-A in FIG. 2,illustrating a cabinet formation according to a related art; and

[0020]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view cut along a line A-A in FIG. 2,illustrating a cabinet formation according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0021] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodimentof the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings. Throughout the drawings, like elements areindicated using the same or similar reference designations wherepossible.

[0022] The home appliance cabinet according to the present invention isembodied as of a sectioned lid of a top-loading washing machine. Thesectioned lid is a double-hinged lid and includes combined first andsecond sections corresponding to front and rear lids hinged at amidpoint of the combined lid, each section comprising inner and outerpanels coupled to each other by a welding process. The construction andcoupling of the rear lid, which has one end hinge-coupled to the washingmachine and the other end hinge-coupled to the front lid, is shown inFIG. 4.

[0023] Referring to FIG. 4, an inner panel 52 and an outer panel 50 arejoined together to form a rear lid 16, the outer panel being contouredaccording to the design needs of the home appliance. A plurality ofreinforcement ribs 50 a, integrally formed with the outer panel 50,protrude inward from an inner surface of the outer panel, to extend to apredetermined height, i.e., such that their distal ends all lie in asingle plane. At least one boss 54 is provided on an inner surface ofthe inner panel 52 in opposition to the reinforcement ribs 50 a. Theboss 54 has a flat upper surface, establishing a right angle withrespect to the protruding reinforcement ribs 50 a, and a plurality ofcoupling grooves 54 are formed in the flat upper surface incorrespondence to the distal ends of the reinforcement ribs, which areflat and respectively fitted to the coupling grooves to be joined withthe boss by welding.

[0024] Accordingly, the welded coupling between the reinforcement ribs50 a and the boss 52 a is secure, and remains strong even after extendeduse, due to the right angle created when the reinforcement ribs areinserted into the coupling grooves 54 of the boss. Moreover, since thereinforcing ribs 50 a all extend to a predetermined height, regardlessof the contoured shape of the outer panel 50, cabinet manufacturing isfacilitated since their height may be easily controlled and since theirwelds lie in one plane.

[0025] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made in the present inventionwithout departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it isintended that the present invention cover such modifications andvariations, provided they come within the scope of the appended claimsand their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A cabinet for a home appliance, the cabinetcomprising: an outer panel having at least one reinforcement rib,integrally formed on an inner surface of said outer panel, to protrudefrom the inner surface to a predetermined height; and an inner panelhaving at least one boss, formed on an inner surface of said inner panelin opposition to the at least one reinforcement rib, for joining saidpanels together, wherein the at least one boss has a flat surface forestablishing a right angle with respect to the at least onereinforcement rib.
 2. The cabinet as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidpanels are joined by a welding process.
 3. The cabinet as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the at least one reinforcement rib is welded to the atleast one boss.
 4. The cabinet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the atleast one reinforcement rib has a flat distal end surface parallel tothe flat surface of the at least one boss.
 5. The cabinet as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the at least one boss has at least one coupling grooveformed in the flat surface in correspondence to the at least onereinforcement rib.
 6. The cabinet as claimed in claim 5, wherein the atleast one reinforcement rib is inserted into the at least one couplinggroove.
 7. A cabinet for a home appliance, the cabinet comprising: anouter panel having a plurality of reinforcement ribs, integrally formedon an inner surface of said outer panel, to protrude from the innersurface to a predetermined height; and an inner panel having at leastone boss, formed on an inner surface of said inner panel in oppositionto the plurality of reinforcement ribs, for joining said panelstogether, wherein the at least one boss has a flat surface forestablishing a right angle with respect to the reinforcement ribs. 8.The cabinet as claimed in claim 7, wherein each of said plurality ofreinforcement ribs has a flat distal end.
 9. The cabinet as claimed inclaim 8, wherein the flat distal ends of said plurality of reinforcementribs lie in one plane.
 10. The cabinet as claimed in claim 7, whereinthe at least one boss has a plurality of coupling grooves formed in theflat surface in correspondence to the plurality of reinforcement ribs.11. The cabinet as claimed in claim 10, wherein the reinforcement ribsare respectively inserted into the coupling grooves.
 12. A cabinet of ahome appliance having a sectioned lid comprised of a first section and asecond section having one end hinge-coupled to the first section, thecabinet comprising: an outer panel having at least one reinforcementrib, integrally formed on an inner surface of said outer panel, toprotrude from the inner surface to a predetermined height; and an innerpanel having at least one boss, formed on an inner surface of said innerpanel in opposition to the at least one reinforcement rib, for joiningsaid panels together, wherein the at least one boss has a flat surfacefor establishing a right angle with respect to the at least onereinforcement rib.
 13. The cabinet as claimed in claim 12, wherein theother end of the second section is hinge-coupled to the home appliance.14. The cabinet as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first sectioncomprises a grip for manually operating the sectioned lid.